Self-cleaning filter



April 17, 1956 M. Q. BRUNTON 2,742,157

' SELF-CLEANING FILTER Filed Jan. 10, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. M082; Q. Bra/76017 April 17, 1956 M. Q. BRUNTON SELF-CLEANING FILTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 10, 1952 IIIE 5....

INVENTOR. Matt Q Brunton 0 w w m J 6 5 w gm u m g 6 I U v fiv Kw Figure 4.

- funiiu v ",2,74g, 157 sELF-e-LEANING FILTER Matti- 3mm Sta io -s Calif- Applicationlanuary 10,1352, Serial No. 265,820 @(Haims. (Cl-{ 715 This invention relates tto-filters, and more particularly ,to -the..embodiment inthighrpressure filters of new and imtproyredmeanszfortselectively cleaning any one of a group rofsfilter elements ;without discontinuing" operation of the filter. k

An object of the invention is the provision of a multielement filter having-fluid flow control means adapted to cause a portion of the fluid passing through the filter to be reverselytpassedthrough a selected filter element to thereby cleanserthe element.

A further objectof .thetinvention is the provision of a .rnultiielementfilterjhaving' an .inlet' line, a primary dis- .charge-1ine,.a secondary discharge line or flow passageway, endfluid 'fiow control means selectively operable to re- .ceive a'ponionof the fluid which would normallypass through the primary discharge l line and divert this fluid in a reverse direction through a selectedfilterhelmenttand into the!secondary'dischargeline;

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentvfrom thefollowing description taken in conjunctionvwith the drawings forming part of this specifica- -tion,landtin whichz' a l Figure iris atop plan view of a multi-elementfilter embodying the self-cleaning system ofthe invention;

Figure 1; x 1 V Figure 3 is a view in section taken along'lines 3 3 of :Figu're 4;

"Figure 2 is a view in section taken along lines of 'Figure 4 is a view in section taken along lines 4 -4 of Figure 3;-ar 1d Figure 5-is a detail view tal en along lines 5- -5 of Referring to the embodiment of the invention "illustratedin .cFigures land 2, a-high-p'ressure large" capacity filter indicated generally at isi comprised of a cylindrical filter body-lland afilterheadaltsecured to thebf'ody by bolts 1 6 extendingihroughtheadflange 18, gasket-=20', and

U d States Patent Ice 2 lodges between the discs 30 at the outer edges of the discs, thereby reducing the capacity and eflicie'ncy of the elements. *When this condition occurs, conventional Pa e d A tpractice is to back-flush fluid through the filter elements a by using line 46 as an input line andline Has an output line, or" by removing the filter elements 26 and 28 from the head and separately cleaning them. Inforder to bashflitshthe filter it mustbe removed from-itsnormal pipe- .line environment and this of course meansthat the'filter will beout of use for the period required to remove it fromthe system, back-flush it, and replace it intthe system. The present invention concernsthe addition ofItrn eansto the filter whereby. the filter elements may he cleaned while the filter is still being used, and the added means for thispurpose will now be described.

Thehead 14 is provided with an aitially disposedsle'eve,

andsecured to the-head asby b0lts"5 0, istangelongated tube 52 serving as an extension of sleeve 48. The tuhe 52 is .provided with diametrally opposedslots fifl inthe lower end thereof for a purpose "hereinafter described. Slidably disposed in -fluidatight fitting relation within sleeve 48 andtube-SZ is a rod'56 whichis hollow, or tubular, below thelpoint indicated 'at SS. The lowerend of the tubular portion of member 56 is closed ofiLbyan elbow extensional-which is integral with a cylindrical cup- 62 having an open upper end'.

Ahoosingfitisseeured to head 1 4 bybolts 66 extending through housing flange-68 and gasketflt) into -thehead. A'discharge chamber 72 is defined within the housing-o4, and a se'co'ndary fiuid'disehargeline 74 is secured to the housing in communicating relation with chamber The line 74 is provided with a control valve 76. 1 A' paclting gland l carried within a recess formed in theupper e rid ofhousing 64-is securing in place by packing glan'dnut 80; -Therod-likememberP56 is provided with a' b5ss' 82 at its upper end and a cross l1 andle-8 4 extendsthrough the bossI When the filterisin normal use, the boss's; rests on the packing gland nut -30 so that the cup o2 is disposed at the-bottom of the filteri body 12, as indicated-by the dotted outline showing of the cup, and when the cup is in this position the elbow extension is disposed'b'elow the lower end of tube 54. 7

Assuming now thatthe' filter elements 26 and 28*have e i 's b l s' wit d t a b p d ssts ib a F r-W i p ress ure measuredby pressure gauges,'not shown docated I the'inlet and outletlines 425M146, and that it is des'i're d body flange -22, saidaboltsibeingtsecured nuts -24. A'

[pair of filter elements 26 redeem the edge-type and comprised ofr a number roffdis'cs 60 having thic'kness es which control the idegree of filtration obtainedi are car 1-ried-rbythebottom wall32 of head 14 in discharge relag .tion to head chamber34 through ports 36 and 38, l' he 7 body 12 is provided withta'n vinletnipple 40having threadably engaged therewithan inlet line-i4}, while thehe ad 14 visrprovided -with anioutlet nipple44-havingthreadably engaged therewith an outlet-line 46. i J

Normally, the-bottonrwall -32 of head l i is imperforate except for the provision of the filter element ports;36 and 38, and the upper wall of the head is also imperforated 7 except :fo'r'the provisionof'the dischargeoutlet," As so constituted, fluid to be filtered is introduced into the body through inlet line 42, and the fluid then 'passes through il e "edgeftype filter elements ;'2 6 and 28 and through the ports 36"and38to the head chamber 34; from whence it passes in I filtered condition through 1 thei'dise liarge' lin tti; 'Ihefilter elements Maud 28 eventually become clogged'withdirgor other foreign matter, which to fi teffctthe eleahing of filt'er elementisfthe'feross handles}; ahually rotated to tu tn the rodlilce member When this" hasbe en'done, the to be filtered ,fthe

by th li iqnvss r h P ai s' r r i izf sen. first "nitrate ch m as t a ai ills I secured thereto.

is then repeated with filter element 26.

A modified form of the self-cleaning filter system of the invention is shown in Figures 3-5. Here, the filter 11 is comprised of a filter body 112 and a filter head 114 Dependent from the bottom plate 116 of the'head are a plurality of cylindrical skirts 118 open at their lower ends and laterally enclosing filter elements 120, 122, 124 and 126, each of the filter elements being associated with a discharge port, such as 128, providing for communication with the filter head chamber. A plate 130 having a segmental opening indicated at 132m Figure 3 is supported within the body 112 on annular rib 134.

The plate 130 is apertured to receive .the lower open ends of the cylindrical skirts 118. i

The filter is provided with atube 136 extending through the head 114 and plate 130, said tube being fixedly positioned by threaded engagement at 138 with the bottom plate 116 of the head. The tube 136 is provided with a plug 140 at its upper end which serves as a bearing guide 7 for rod 142 which has secured to its upper end a control Wheel 144 having a plurality of spaced notches 146. A fluid sealing ring'148 is seated within the plug 148 in engagement with rod 142, and sealing means comprising a packing gland 150 and packing gland nut 152 provide a fluid-tight seal between head 114 and tube 136.

The rod 142 has a disc 154' fixedly secured to its lower end, and the disc in turn is fixedly secured to a box-like control member indicated generally at 156. The upper wall 158 of member 156 is in sleeved relation to tube 136, and wall 158 is provided with a circular aperture 160 which is radially alignable upon rotation of control rod 142 with any selected one of the cylindrical skirts 118. Compression spring 162 having one end in engagement with a seat ring 164 secured to the lower end of the fixed tube 136 and the other end in engagement with wall 158 of the box-like control member serves to maintain the upper wall 158 of member 156 in engagement with the lower edges of skirts 118 and the underside of plate 130, and the rod 142 which is fixedly secured to member 156 is thereby yieldingly maintained against downward endwise movement.

The filter system is provided with a secondary discharge line 166 which communicates through-valve body 168 disc 144. When the disc 144 is rotated so as to bring a notch 146 into alignment with lever arm 186, the lever 180 is pivoted by spring 184 to move arm 186 within the notch, and the pivotal movement of the lever 180 brings it into engagement with stem end 178 to overcome the spring 176 and move valve disc 170 away from seat 174.

When the disc 144 is in a position where lever arm 186 engages the major unnotched portion 188 ofdisc 144, the box-like control member 156extends below the segmental openings 132 of plate 130 out of fluid 'fiow blocking relation to any of the filter elements. When the control member is in this position,'the filter system is in con dition for normal operation, and the path of flow of the fluid to be filtered is as follows: through inputline 190 and segmental opening 132 to the bottom of the filter body; upwardly through the open ends of cylindrical skirts 118; through the filter elements 120, 122, 124 and 126 andthe discharge ports therefor, such as 128, and into the filter head; and through the prirnary discharge line 192.

When it is desired to clean the filter elements, the disc 144 is rotated to a point where lever arm 186 is forced by spring 184 into a notch 146, thus opening valve 168. This rotation of disc 144 causes rod 142 to be rotated to bring the box-like control member 156 into a position where the aperture 161) thereof is aligned with the lower end of one of the cylindrical skirts 118. Flow of fluid to the particular filter element within this skirt will then be blocked by member 156, and the back pressure of the fluid within the filter head received from the unblocked filter elements serves to' force some of the fluid downwardly through the discharge port of the filter element with which the box-like control member 156 is ascociated. The filter cleaning fluid together with the dirt which it removes from the filter element passes into the control member 156 and into and through the tube 136 to the open discharge line 166. When the fluid passing into the sump, not shown, from the dis charge line 166 is free of dirt, the cleaning operation of the particular filter element can be stopped by manually pivoting lever to bring lever arm 186 out of notch 146, and the disc 144 can then be turned to bring the next succeeding notch 146 into alignment with the lever arm to thus initiate the cleaning of the next succeeding filterv element. In this manner, each of the filter elements can be cleaned in succeeding order.

From the foregoing description it will be clear that I have provided a novel self-cleaning filter system well adapted for the attainment of the objects above set forth, and while two specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that all substantial equivalents of these embodiments are within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A self cleaning filter comprising a filter body having a fluid inlet line, a filter head having a fluid discharge line, a plurality of filter elements carried within said body in dependent relation to said head and adapted to discharge fluid into said head, a tubular conduit extending axially through said head and into said body and communicating at its outer end with a secondary discharge line, a plurality of open-ended cylindrical skirts depending from said head, each skirt being in surrounding and spaced relation to a filter'element, with the longitudinal axes of the skirts being located equi-distantly from the axis of said tubular conduit, a rod extending axially through said conduit, a box-likerfluid control 'member secured to the lower end of said rod, said memtation of said rod, said member and conduit being so associated that the interiors thereof are intercommunieating, whereby, when said aperture is registered with the mouth of a skirt, the flow offiuid from said-"body into said skirt is prevented and a back-pressure-induced flow of fluid from said head through the filter element in said skirt passes through said member into said conduit to said secondary discharge vline. 1

2. A self cleaning filter. as set forth'in .claim 1, said rod-being provided atits upper end .with a handle for rota-ting said rod to position; saidmembcr, said handle having associated therewith means for indicating the position'of said member with respectto the mouths of said skirts. 1

3. A self cleaning filter as set forth in claim 1, said rod being provided at its upper end with a handle wheel.

' a lever pivotally secured at one end to said head and having its free end biased into engagement-with the periphery of said handle wheel, a plurality of circumferentially spaced peripheral notches so related in number and angular spacing to said skirts and soj relatedto the disposition of said memberon said rod that when the free end of said lever is in registry with one of said notches the aperture of said member is in registry with the mouth of a predetermined one of said skirts, a valve in said secondary discharge line under the control of said lever, said lever being operable to open said valve 6 when the free end of the lever is moved into a notch and being operable to close said valve when the free en is moved out of the notch.

References Cited in the file of this patent 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS Zollinger Mar. 4, 1952 

